At Congregation Kneseth Israel we have a four part vision statement. Meaningful Observance, Life Long Learning, Embracing Diversity and Building Community. Since signing my contract, I have written my vision of how this vision plays out. Here is the fourth part on building community. When we engage in meaningful observance, life long learning and embracing diversity, we build community. It is the pillar on which all the other planks stand.

Here is what I just emailed to my congregation:

Building Community:

For me, building community is about deepening the relationships between people. This concept is precisely what the focus group studies showed and the book Relational Judaism. People want to feel connected to one another. That is what Buber was talking about when he spoke about an I-Thou relationship. That is part of the gift of religion and as I am fond of saying what the root of the word religion means, religio, to tie back up into.

Here at Congregation Kneseth Israel we are fortunate, because we have a core of a great community. People want to be here. We don’t seem to have any problem these days having a minyan—even in an emergency or even on those weekends when the regulars are out of town and the weather is questionable.

However there are things we can do to continue to build on community—which in turn will grow our community and make it stronger, as a support network and a financial base.

1. Deepening the conversation

• I do this with my blog and by asking members to guest blog sometimes
• Our presence on Facebook and the sharing of relevant articles, like recent ones on Interfaith weddings, on membership structures, on Bar Mitzvahs. This promotes dialogue and discussion. It gives us the opportunity to look at best practices as well.
• Java and Jews and Kiddush Roundtable also extend these conversations. So do the people who just want to hang out after services for Oneg Shabbat and Kiddush.
• Tikkun Olam also builds community. Sid Schwartz in his book Finding a Spiritual Home makes it clear that in each of the four successful congregations he profiled each had a successful Tikkun Olam program where people became friends while working at a soup kitchen, etc. Our participation in PADs and Habitat for Humanity is a starting point.

2. Providing more support for our members when they need it most

• Lifecycle events, making sure they are customized, not out-of-the-box and meet peoples’ needs
• A combination of bikkur holim (visiting the sick), chevra kaddisha (burial society) and pastoral care. We need to train more people to do these functions so that in a time of emergency we can respond appropriately and quickly. We have taken recent steps to make sure that we have some emergency meals in the freezer.

3. Providing four events a month. Two aimed at our own internal, existing members and two aimed externally. Those external events must be accompanied by press releases. They should be varied including things like the Purim Carnival and Wine Tasting and the Passover Seder. Some can be in the synagogue. Some should be in more visible places like Gail Borden Library, Blue Box Cafe, others

4. More social events for our members. We need to become “the destination” place. Reviving the Forever 29 club and learning from the Diamonds could help. So can the new PJC Youth Group and the planning that happens with the Torah School parents during Torah School.

5. Partnering with organizations that extend our reach. Prairie Jewish Coalition, Keshet, Jewish United Fund, Interfaith Family.com, Big Tent Judaism are all organizations with whom we can and do partner and can help us build our community here in Elgin.

Building community is also about creating a positive space. That space means that we do not gossip or spread rumors. That is called lashon hara, evil tongue. That space means we don’t say bad things about other people. Any of us. We are non-judgmental. That space is a safe space. That space means it is warm and welcoming for everyone. That space means that we accept everyone’s gifts. Debbie Friedman said it so well in her song, Holy Place:

These are the gifts that we bring
that we may build a holy place.
This is the spirit that we bring
that we may build a holy place.
We will bring all the goodness
that comes from our hearts
And the spirit of God will dwell within…..

These are the colors of our dreams
we bring to make a holy place.
This is the weaving of our lives
we bring to make a holy place.
We will bring all the goodness
that comes from our hearts
And the spirit of love will dwell within…..

These are the prayers that we bring
that we may make a holy place.
These are the visions that we seek
that we may build this holy place.
Let our promise forever be strong,
let our souls rise together in song,
That the spirit of God
and the spirit of love, 
Shechinah,
will dwell within.

That is my vision of building holy space, of building community, of building CKI.